CONJUNCTIONS

AND	to show addition
BUT	to show contrast, exception
YET	to show contrast, "nevertheless," "despite"
OR	to show choice
FOR	*to show cause-effect relationship, "because"*
SO	to show cause-effect relationship
EITHER-OR	use in pairs
NEITHER-NOR	use in pairs

· "COORDINATING":

· co-worker, co-captain, co-habitate, co-sign

· The prefix “co-” means EQUAL.

· Thus, “coordinating conjunctions” join equal words, phrases, or clauses.

o WORDS: That shirt is repulsive and outdated. (2 adjectives)

o PHRASES: In the beginning of time and before the fall of mankind, the earth was a pretty cool place to live. (2 prepositional phrase groups)

o CLAUSES: Geoffrey went to the grocery store nearest the dorms, and he bought macaroni and cheese, Ramon noodles, and Strohman’s bread. (2 independent clauses)

EXCEPTION: Coordinating conjunctions (especially "and" and "but") do NOT start sentences. Instead, use proper transitional expressions, such as:

for "AND": additionally, moreover, furthermore
for "BUT": however, on the other hand, on the contrary

AND

BUT

YET

NOR

FOR

· HOW TO REMEMBER THESE 7:

o “FAN BOYS” (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

o the most common: and

o the 2 that end in “t”: but, yet

o the 3 that rhyme: or, nor, for

o and so

PLEASE NOTE: "FOR"

means "because"
is an archaic use of the word
is not frequently used in speech
EXAMPLE:
I failed the test, for I did not study.
I failed the test because I did not study.

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The word “for” can also be a PREPOSITION, depending on it usage in a particular sentence
EXAMPLES:
I went to the store, for I was out of bread.
(coordinating conjunction: joins 2 independent clauses)
I went to the store for bread.
( preposition, followed by its object)

C) SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS:

after	although	as	as much as	because
before	how	if	inasmuch as	in order that
provided	since	so that	than	though
till	unless	until	when	whenever
where	wherever	while

· "SUBORDINATING":

· submarine, subvert, submerge, substitute

· The prefix "sub-" means "under" or "secondary."

· Thus, “subordinating conjunctions” join clauses to a sentence that are secondary to (“under” or “below”) the main meaning.

· These clauses usually relate to TIME (when, why, condition).

· Therefore, subordinate clauses are ADVERBIAL in nature (“when?”).

WHEN:	*after, as, before, since, when, whenever, while, until*
WHY:	*as, because, since, whereas*
CONDITION:	*although, even though, if, provided that, unless, while*

· Some subordinating conjunctions also appear on the list of PREPOSITIONS; prepositions typically refer to place and subordinating conjunctions to time.

· Subordinate clauses are always FRAGMENTS (dependent clauses) and must be joined to independent clauses.

· Introductory subordinating clauses (appear at the start of sentences) always have COMMAS after them.

· Because it was raining very hard, I brought my golf umbrella.

o Here, the main clause and the main point is I brought my golf umbrella.

o Why? Because it was raining very hard

o This latter dependent clause is bonus information not necessarily required for the sentence to make sense, and it is secondary to ("under") the sentence's main point.

o Also, rather than writing 2 separate sentences (It was raining very hard. AND I brought my golf umbrella.), which would create a choppy rhythm to your composition, you combined your ideas through SUBORDINATION into a single complex sentence.

PLEASE NOTE:

Coordinating Conjunctions are not part of the clauses they join; they function like a bridge linking two independent clauses.

Subordinating Conjunctions, on the other hand, are a part of the clauses they introduce; they function like a parasite which weakens the host, in this case, making that host a dependent clause--that is why subordinate clauses are always fragments. Therefore, when you locate in your own writing a subordinate conjunction and its clause, make sure it is not punctuated as a complete sentence (no period); rather, confirm that it is attached to an independent clause that finishes its thought.

D) Using COORDINATION and SUBORDINATION in your writing:

· While the occasional usage of a short sentence can prove effective when creating emphasis, the reliance upon short, unrelated sentences produces a choppiness that not only sounds childish but also disrupts the coherence of your essay.

· Use COORDINATION and SUBORDINATION to resolve a short, choppy writing style.

· More importantly, to show relationships between ideas and sentences.

o I was hungry.

o I went to the grocery store.

o I bought milk, bread, and cheese.

· Here, we have short, disconnected sentences with a staccato rhythm.

· Below, we can combine these 3 sentences through subordination and/or coordination, thereby showing relationships between ideas and creating a smooth pace for the essay.

o Because I was hungry, I went to the store and bought milk, bread, and cheese.

----------OR----------

o I was hungry, so I went to store and bought milk, bread, and cheese.

----------OR----------

o Feeling hungry, I went to the store, and I bought milk,

bread, and cheese.

(using a participial phrase and coordination)